PEGI Goes From Strength To Strength: All PEGI Classifications Now Recognised In Finnish Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Helsinki, 14 December 2006. The Finnish Parliament passed a revision to the Act on Classification of Audiovisual Programs enabling the recognition of all PEGI age classifications into Finnish Law.

The Pan European Game Information system (PEGI) is the first ever pan-European rating system for digital content. It has been developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) to provide consumers with an independently evaluated recommendation regarding the age class for which a computer or video game is suitable.

From the outset, i.e. April2003, PEGI ratings have been endorsed by the Finnish Board of Film Classification on the basis of the Act on Classification of Audiovisual Programs. Article 12, however, provided for 11 and 15 age categories instead of the PEGI 12+ and 16+ respectively.

By revising article 12, the Finnish Parliament has now fully acknowledged the PEGI system into its legislation. From January 1, 2007 onwards, all the PEGI age categories (3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ and 18+) will be in use on video games sold in Finland.

This additional support given to PEGI by the Finnish Parliament sounds particularly propitious at a time when legitimate calls are made to improve the protection of minors from unsuitable content by way of pan-European public/private partnerships. The tribute thus paid to the PEGI public/private partnership provides further evidence of PEGI's ability to articulate effectively with national legislations on a continuing basis. In this respect, it is worth noting that the Finnish Act on Classification of Audiovisual Programs also prohibits 18+ games from being sold to minors.

For further information please contact:

Jürgen Bänsch, Communication Officer

Address: ISFE 15 rue Guimard B-1040 Brussels

Phone: +32 2 503 50 28

Email: info@isfeurope.org

URL: www.isfe.eu, www.pegi.info